Thoughts on late Alaska season

[Sleepyluke]

We are having to move an upcoming cruise and the new thought is that we are going to move it to Alaska. We basically have August 2018 open and can book. For you Alaska vets out there, is there any advantage to going earlier or later in the season? Don't have to worry about school, so later is a valid option with cheaper prices, but don't want to miss out on must see things that are either done or sold out by late season. We have heard there is a chance of seeing the northern lights at the end of August/early September, but not very likely and that wildlife could be a little less if the winter decides to show up early.

What else do we need to consider, or just take the money savings, go late and enjoy the scenery?

 

[Dug720]

No clue about the northern lights, but animals are never a guarantee. I did an Alaska cruise two years in a row around the same time (in this case late July) - the first it was humpback whale city with whales alongside the ship, in front of the ship, behind the ship, etc. but the second year the only thing we saw was an orca or two while anchored at Ict Strait Point.

For Alaska I would just book for the scenery and culture and IF there are whales or other animals, it's a bonus.

 

[Quellman]

We did one of the first runs of Alaska in April one year. It was much too early for many of the wildlife critters.
If you want to see the northern lights you need to book as late in September as it comes, and then hope for a crystal clear evening at like 130am. But you would be better off booking a land vacation since most cruises aren't going far enough north to be closer to the arctic circle where the lights are much stronger than they are further south.

 

[Geomom]

I would go late, take the $ savings and enjoy the scenery--it is beautiful any time. We did the 8/8-8/15 cruise last year. Late July to August is the salmon run season, which means that the bears will be around...no guarantees that you will see any though. (We 'heard' bears walk past us at Mendenhall Glacier--we were on a paved path, they were in the thick woods so we just caught a glimpse of some fur. Someone did say the bears were at Steep Creek trail when we were leaving, but we didn't have time to go see for ourselves.) Saw bald eagles in Juneau, one in a tree near the free shuttle bus stop back to the ship. We did see a humpback from the Wonder on our last day at sea--water spout/back/tail. Also saw dolphin/porpoise type things. There will be no snow on the mountains by then, but that also means that barring landslides...you should be able to go further into the fjord to see a glacier on 'tracy arm day'.

 

[Chirple]

We are having to move an upcoming cruise and the new thought is that we are going to move it to Alaska. We basically have August 2018 open and can book. For you Alaska vets out there, is there any advantage to going earlier or later in the season? Don't have to worry about school, so later is a valid option with cheaper prices, but don't want to miss out on must see things that are either done or sold out by late season. We have heard there is a chance of seeing the northern lights at the end of August/early September, but not very likely and that wildlife could be a little less if the winter decides to show up early.

What else do we need to consider, or just take the money savings, go late and enjoy the scenery?

We did the last Alaska cruise on DCL in 2011, which ended up being late August (original September cruise was canceled).

We are two adults so we can pretty much travel at any time. It was less expensive to take this cruise, and we booked a verandah.

Northern Lights - they were not on display.

Wildlife
Juneau: saw humpbacks and orca on our Harv & Marv whale watch tour. Made a quick stop at Mendenhall Glacier (pouring rain), but the majority of the wood path was closed off because the male bears were aggressive; the females were protecting their cubs. Saw an eagle at Mendenhall and one flying while we were on the bus back to the ship.

Skagway: saw a black bear and her cub from the small bus on the way back from our Chilkoot tour on the WhitePass/Yukon train and bus.

Ketchikan: saw harbor seals in the creek and alongside the dock.

Scenery: worth the price.

 

[lorimay]

We did the last Alaska cruise in 2013, Sept 1st or 2nd I believe.
We got an amazing price almost half off, it was a great price for a balcony room from a little over $5000 originally to $2500. The weather was a mix of everything, but that was OK for us.
The only thing we didn't see was bears unfortunately. I think it was Kethican where we did a tour with hopes of seeing some, but it was a super warm day and we didn't get lucky.

 

[AngelDisney]

We went late August in 2015 for a lower price. It rained almost every single day except Tracy Arm Day. That was a great day with wonderful weather. So thankful for that. We were prepared with the rain and didn't mind it but would prefer better weather. However, there was not much ice and you expected to see the ice. The warm weather causing the cancellation of our dogsledding excursion in Skagway. I received an email about 10 days before embarkation and fortunately we were able to book that excursion in Juneau. We missed the canoe excursion in Juneau and went snorkelling in Ketchikan instead. It was a memorable trip but if I can go anytime I want, I may choose earlier cruise for Alaska to see its real beauty with the snow. However, as a teacher, I can only travel in the summer.

BTW, we did see salmon run in Skagway right by where we ziplined.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

We were on the same 8/8 cruise as @Geomom One thing I will warn is if you plan to do any air excursions prepare for them to be cancelled later in the season. The fog was so bad at two of our ports that most (all perhaps?) helicopter excursions were cancelled - including our helicopter/dog sled excursion in Juneau. I would assume that if you only plan to do land or sea excursions then you won't have a problem.

 

[KashasMom]

We went 2nd week of August - saw bears, whales, eagles, etc. We did the dog sledding with Temsco out of Skagway no problems. I see the above poster tried to do it out of Juneau - that one is frequently canceled throughout the season. I'd have no problem going back in August.

 

[KayKayJS]

Air excursions can be cancelled at any time in the season. We went on the first Alaskan cruise this year and our dog sledding in Skagway was cancelled but we rebooked for Juneau and it was amazing.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

We went 2nd week of August - saw bears, whales, eagles, etc. We did the dog sledding with Temsco out of Skagway no problems. I see the above poster tried to do it out of Juneau - that one is frequently canceled throughout the season. I'd have no problem going back in August.

Actually, they were cancelled in Skagway as well. People that were booked in Skagway tried to book for Juneau and both were cancelled.

Air excursions can be cancelled at any time in the season. We went on the first Alaskan cruise this year and our dog sledding in Skagway was cancelled but we rebooked for Juneau and it was amazing.

I'm just repeating what the cruise staff had mentioned to me. They said it's very common later in the season for air excursions to be cancelled. I'm sure they get cancelled throughout the season but a few of them had told me it was more common for it to happen later in the season.

It wouldn't stop me from going that time of year again to save money but I'd definitely have a better plan for some backups. And wildlife was plentiful even if you don't go on any paid excursions.

 

[KashasMom]

Actually, they were cancelled in Skagway as well. People that were booked in Skagway tried to book for Juneau and both were cancelled.

Got it. Must have been bad weather all around. We were warned that Juneau is canceled more frequently. We did do a Pilots Choice double glacier landing with Temsco in Juneau and lucked out with the weather - and that was the first cruise of the season. Weather in Alaska can be iffy any time of the year.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

Got it. Must have been bad weather all around. We were warned that Juneau is canceled more frequently. We did do a Pilots Choice double glacier landing with Temsco in Juneau and lucked out with the weather - and that was the first cruise of the season. Weather in Alaska can be iffy any time of the year.

Oh, absolutely without a doubt! Weather is unpredictable just about anywhere. People often ask me a good time to visit Disneyland weather wise - and my response is your guess is as good as mine! We just had 95 degree temps with lightning and thunderstorms which is incredibly unusual!

I was just told by staff that later in the season is when there are more cancellations. Perhaps they were just saying that to make me feel good or perhaps so I'd book my next Alaskan Cruise during the more expensive season

 

[Shanti]

We did the last Alaska cruise in 2013, Sept 1st or 2nd I believe.
We got an amazing price almost half off, it was a great price for a balcony room from a little over $5000 originally to $2500. The weather was a mix of everything, but that was OK for us.
The only thing we didn't see was bears unfortunately. I think it was Kethican where we did a tour with hopes of seeing some, but it was a super warm day and we didn't get lucky.

Wow. That price for a Wonder Alaska verandah cabin amazes me. I've got a 2018 DCL Alaska cruise booked, and our deck 2 oceanview room costs over $5,000 for just 2 passengers. The cheapest verandah cabin would cost over $10,000.

 

[Pens Fan]

We've never been on an Alaskan cruise in August, but we took a land based trip (further north) in late August / early Sept and it was wonderful. Weather was typical Alaskan - unpredictable. Cool, a bit rainy, and we had one flight tour cancelled due to fog (but another went on without a hitch). Weather in Alaska is so crazy it's hard to say "this is the best time". We have had much better luck in July vs. August, but someone else could have the complete opposite experience. In August as a PP mentioned the salmon are running (begins in late July) in most of the areas the cruise ships visit, so your chances of seeing bears and eagles are much better. A lot of the bear tours don't even start until then.

We've seen a ton of wildlife every time we've been to Alaska (2 cruises in late July and the land based trip in Aug/Sept). If you really want to see wildlife, it's best to book some type of tour that will take you to the areas they frequent. Yes, you can get lucky and see them on the side of the road. On the trip we just took we saw three bears on the side of the road on the way to Emerald Lake from Skagway and two moose (different times) in the Homer area after we finished our cruise. But most of our wildlife sightings - Orkas, Humbacks, brown bears, black bears, eagles, sea lions - happened on excursions going into areas wildlife frequent. I've found that most excursion companies are pretty up front about your chances for seeing wildlife. The reputable ones tend to want to "under promise" and "over deliver" if you contact them directly and talk to them.

We did see the northern lights in late August, but it was up in Denali which is much further north than a cruise will go. I wouldn't try to time a cruise based on them as your chances are pretty slim. It could happen, but it's not likely.

 

[Aby]

We have been on 3 DCL cruises to Alaska and all 3 were in August (and pretty much the same week each time). We absolutely loved the time of year for each of our cruises. There were some excursions cancelled on each cruise, but there was only one day that was a total wash - Juneau day on our cruise in 2011 - where almost every single excursion was cancelled. Tracey Arm day was beautiful all 3 cruises, although slightly better on the first one, and even that late in the season we got diverted to Endicott Arm last year due to ice. The salmon were running on two of our cruises, but last years it hadn't started yet. We didn't see any bears while on the ship, but in 2013 we took a float plane to Neets Bay and saw some amazingly up close. All 3 years we did see whales from the ship, as well as on our excursions in Juneau.

I would most definitely go to Alaska with DCL again in August! I do have a trip report from last years trip if you would care to read. You can find it here: https://www.disboards.com/threads/t...-wonder-with-four-adults-august-2016.3560012/

Hope this helps!

Aby

 

[Carrie in AZ]

Tonight I picked up our friends from the airport who disembarked this morning from a 7nt Alaska cruise on another line. They had amazing weather, so sunny and warm this last week. My friend said she wore every short-sleeved shirt she brought and bought another one to wear as well. They DID see the Northern Lights! They sent me a picture. They also saw seals on ice and a whale.

 

[jdb in AZ]

One good reason to go late in the season -- the Alaskan Fireweed. Gorgeous pink flowers. When they bloom, that's Mother Nature's way of signaling that summer will soon be over.

 

[lorimay]

Wow. That price for a Wonder Alaska verandah cabin amazes me. I've got a 2018 DCL Alaska cruise booked, and our deck 2 oceanview room costs over $5,000 for just 2 passengers. The cheapest verandah cabin would cost over $10,000.

It was, we were going back and forth about doing Alaska and then when that price came out we jumped on it.
That's the best DCL deal we ever got.
We have taken quite a few Fl Resident cruise deals, but never that good.

 

[Jess_S]

We went last cruise of the season in 2014. I think the major plus late season is that you are less likely to be unable to reach the glacier on scenic sailing day; that seems to happen more early in the season. Weather wise, I don't think there's any way to predict. We had mostly 60s with just one drizzly day. I did an Alaska cruise in the late 90s where we were first cruise of the season (early May on HAL) and it was so hot several days that I wished I had packed shorts.

We were able to spot wildlife on both trips, though the early September trip was at the end of the salmon run so we saw fewer salmon. (Does anyone else care about salmon spotting, or is that just my son?) I would personally go on the cruise if I were you, OP. DCL to Alaska is my second favorite vacation of all time (having been displaced this year by our trip to Costa Rica).